Bottom Feeder - A Highly Maneuverable Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

The Bottom Feeder project is designed to prove out the research done in Phase I using a prototype platform. The prototype will be a full size version of the platform designed during Phase I. The Phase I platform was designed to work in two operational configurations, a highly efficient mode and a highly maneuverable mode, with the ability to switch between them while submerged. The platform is equipped with a modular science bay that is capable of employing a number of different types of scientific sensors while providing a simplified method of switching sensor types. The platform was designed to provide both tethered and autonomous submerged operations. This allows for both autonomous survey operations similar to other Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) and tethered operations similar to Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) when precise handling is required to get in close to delicate coral formations or other underwater objects of interest. The platform will additionally be capable of tethered UUV operations allowing for real time, high bandwidth data streaming.